Game apparatus



(No Model.)

C. H. BUXTON.

GAMB APPARATUS. I No. 541,150. 'Patented June 18, 1895.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

CHARLES H. EUXToN, oF NEENAH, Wisconsin.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 541,150, dated June 18, 1895.

Application filed June 13, 1894. Serial No. 5l4,403. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES H. BUXTON, of Neenah, in the county of Winnebago and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and 4Improved Garne Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in game apparatus; and the object of my invention is to produce a very simple and inexpensive device by which a game, similar to base ball, may be played, the apparatus being arranged so that runs may be scored in a way substantially similar to the way in which they are scored in playing a regular game, and provision being made to put out the player so that considerable skill is required to make thev circuit of the bases and score a run.

To these ends my invention consists of a game apparatus, the construction of which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specitication, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a crosssection on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

The game apparatus embodying my invention has a fiat field 10, which is inclosed in a box 11, the latter being preferablyY rectangular and forming boundaries to the field which prevent theball used in the game from rolling od the field, but it willbe understood that fianges or any equivalent devices may be raised on the field to serve the same purpose. The field is provided with a regulation diamond 12, the base lines of which are formed between the lin es 13 and 14 and at one end of the diamond is a hole 15 representing the home plate, while at the other three corners of the diamond are similar holes 16,' 17 and 18, represlenting first, second, and third base respect# ive y.

The base lines are elongated at the four corners of the diamond, so as to produce the spaces 19, but these spaces need not necessarily be considered in playing the game. In the base lines, between home and first and between home and third, are slots 20, in which the ball may rest, and these represent fouls, as, if the ball in its course finds lodgment in one of these spacesit is called a foul and the player has to begin over again, as will appear below.

In the baseline, near the first base, is a hole 21, near the second base another hole 22, between second and third a hole 23, and near the third base a hole 24 and if, in playing the game, the ball finds lodgment in any of these holes it counts an out and the player who represents the batter is retired. In the right, center and lett fields are also holes 26, 27 and 28, and if the ball lodges in either of these holes the batter is out.

Thereis a hole 25 in the center of the diamond representing the pitchers box, and a hole 25Ja behind the home base representing the catchers stand, and if the ball lodges in either of'these places the batter is out.

It will be understood that the field may be provided with a greater or less number of holes if desired Without affecting the principle of the invention, and in arranging the field and diamond the various holes in which the ball is caught to put out the batter are larger than the holes representing the bases, so as to render it difficult to make the circuit of the bases.

In playing the game a ball 29 is used, which is placed over the hole 15 representing the home base. l The player then takes the board, representing the field, in his hand and tilts the board so as to make the ball run from home base to rst base and endeavors to lodge the ball over the hole 16, which represents the first base, after which he tilts the board so as to make the ball run to second and lodge over the hole 17, then tips the board again to make the ball travel to third base and lodge over the hole 18, and finally tilts it to make the ball run home and lodge over the hole l5.- If, in performing the above operation, the ball runs into either of the foul slots 20 it is called a foul and the player, representing the batter, has to start over again. If, however, it drops in any of the holes exceptthose representing the bases it counts as an out and the batter is retired.

It will be readily seen that the game may be played by one alone or by opposing players, in which case the game maybe played by innings, each player continuing to play until the ball is caught in one of the out holes, which retires the player and permits the next one IOO Y to play.

Every time a successful circuit ot the bases is made a run is counted, and it will be seen that a regular ball game may be played by innings.

In carrying out my invention the directions for playing the game are preferably printed on the board or field, but this is not necessary.

The box containing the board may be provided With a cover so that the whole thing may be closed up when desired.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A gaine apparatus, substantially as de scribed, comprising a board having holes or sockets at points corresponding to the first, second and third bases of a ball field in which the ball may be temporarily seated and provided adjacent to said base sockets with out sockets, the surface of the board adjacent to and between said base anc out sockets being plane, whereby to avoid any positive guiding ot' the ball, substantially as set forth.

2. The improved game apparatus herein described, consisting of a board having bases laid off corresponding to a ball field, provided at intervals with depressed base out and foul spots and having the surface of said board between said spots plane, whereby to avoid any guiding of the ball, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The game apparatus herein described.

trarnmeled in passing from spot to spot andV is governed alone by the skill of the operator in Varying and controlling the angle of the board, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

CHARLES H. BUX'roN. y

Vitnesses:

BYRON S. SANDERS, CHARLES I. MEARS. 

